Chapter 6

Chapter 6 – The Order

Obeying orders came almost reflexively to Irene, who’d learned to suppress her emotions out of habit, but this time there was a swirl of emotion in her eyes. Seeing this, Clad could only swallow bitter tears. He couldn’t help but worry that one day all Irene’s suppressed emotions would eventually result in her falling apart faster than others.

As Irene slowly raised herself up, she let out a lengthy sigh. Glancing back at her knights, she muttered, “What about them…?” Breaking her gaze away from them, she turned back to stare intently at Helink.

Stripped of her knighthood, Irene no longer had a need for her armor. She removed her helmet and the waist-length hair hidden beneath it—silver, but tinged with the faintest hint of purple—came tumbling down. It swayed like moonlight, and along with her amethyst-like eyes, cast a unique and mysterious impression.

“Wow,” one of the knights exclaimed.

Irene sneered and let her helmet drop to the floor. Next, her blood and soil-caked gloves were tossed onto the ground. Then, the armor encasing her body followed next.

“Lady Irene!”

Irene had torn the armor encasing her body with brute strength. Her palms were quickly stained with blood as she forcefully ripped the armor plates off, but she didn’t seem to react to the pain. There were times when anger overpowered rationality—this was such a moment for Irene. Under normal circumstances, it would’ve been impossible to tear the seam connecting the front and back breastplate so easily, but this wasn’t a normal circumstance.

“Lady Irene, please…”Clad pleaded and stretched out a hand to stop Irene.

Refusing his hand, Irene adamantly said, “This is the reality.”

“It can’t be… Not like this.”

The sound of each piece of armor falling into a messy pile on the ground was heartbreaking. Like her armor, Irene felt like her heart was breaking apart too. All the emotions she’d buried and carried throughout her life were also rushing forth.

“Commander, what’s going on?”

“Who allowed you to move?”

Having noticed the abnormal atmosphere, the Voltern knights had begun to flock to Irene, but they all stiffened in response to her thunderous tone. “But Commander…”

“Do you intend to protest? Do not forget that disobedience is governed by military law! Heed my words—no matter what may happen, we are Theorin knights. Do not shame the name of the Knights of Ventus! Now, go!”

“Yes! We will,” the knights obediently answered.

Irene couldn’t help but inwardly laugh at herself. These were words she’d often said to her knights before, but it had never felt stranger to say than at this moment. “Return to your positions. Do not cause confusion for the other knights. Keep your composure,” Irene added.

“We accept your order.”

Satisfied, Irene ripped the Order of the Garter medal that was secured around her calf and dropped it in Helink’s hands. “Take it,” she said, as she brushed off hands.

“Y-you don’t have to…” Helink stammered.

“Clad, we are returning. We must make the necessary preparations.”

Instead of answering, Clad untied the handkerchief around his scabbard and gingerly wrapped it around Irene’s wounded left palm. The white piece of cloth was instantly dyed a deep red. Unable to bear the sight, Clad had to turn away.

“I have a favor to ask you,” Irene said softly.

“I know what you intend to ask of me. I’ll settle my affairs here and will be ready to set off for the Empire soon…”

“Don’t come.”

“Pardon?” Clad remarked in surprise.

“My brothers are still young, and my father’s injuries will need time to heal. They will need you.”

“I… receive your command.” Knowing that this may very well be Irene’s final order, Clad swallowed the words he wished to say, straightened himself, raised his right arm to his chest, and bowed his head.

A biting wind swept through the camp. The acrid scent of blood soaked into the land pierced Irene’s nostrils and sank deep into her lungs, but it was the taste of her own blood pooling inside her mouth that much thicker and richer. Irene, who could neither accept nor deny the fate that had befallen her, could only silently bite down on the inside of her mouth.